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Ekunke Goodness is National Under 10 Champion 2018

The Malogy Under 10 National Chess Championship started on the 14th of April, at 12 noon, with about 60 players registered to participate in the tournament.
Malogy Under 10 (6 – 10 years) Chess Championship

There were some favourites coming into this category, with the likes of Ekunke Goodness who finished first at the Under 10 section of the 1st ANGELS Network Championship in 2017, Israel Ohiorenuan who was also a formidable player touted by some to watch out for, Artharva Mehra who finished in the top 10 ranking of most tournaments he featured in since September 2017, Subomi Omole who has always been a force to reckon with in this category as well, not to mention Ayurda Kiran-Parab an Indian girl who has been playing brilliantly in recent times.

These young vibrant players were so ecstatic to play in this tournament, which would be the first National Chess Championship for the category in close to two (2) decades, and a very big opportunity for the winners to represent on the continent.

Round 2:
During this round, Subomi Omole lost to Ekunke Goodness with the white pieces, whom she has played at least twice in just over year, with Goodness coming out tops in both meetings, but not without a good fight from Subomi. While the other players continued to pick up wins in the round, and the only draw on the top board came between Anjola Oshodi and Onola Tamilore on board four (4).

Round 3.
Ayurda Kiran – Parab lost to Omotoye Taiwo in this round. The game between Daniel Odunuga and Tamilore Odunuga, two (2) siblings of the same parent, was very interesting to follow. At the beginning of the round, Tamilore started crying for being paired against her older brother. She claimed she has never won a game against him in her entire time of playing chess. Coach Boyo Paul Kehinde told her to stop crying and concentrate on this game, which could be the very first time she would defeat her brother in a tournament. Guess what….Tamilore summoned courage and played the best game of her life to reach a King and Queen vs King end game against her brother. At last, she was going to defeat her brother. But the brutality in chess set in when she made a fatal mistake, helping her brother to secure a stalemate, hence a draw was declared by the Arbiter. She was so hurt that she could not bring the full point home, and she started another series of tears.

Round 4
This round started in the early afternoon of Sunday, the 15th of March, 2018, at exactly 1pm. Atharva Mehra continued his victory train as he defeated Udolisa Chimaobi on board 1 to remain on a perfect four (4) points of the possible four (4) games, while Ekunke Goodness also defeated Israel Ohiorenuan and Omotoye Taiwo defeated Daniel Odunuga to join Atharva in the lead.

Round 5
Playing on top board in this round was Ekunke Goodness who defeated Omotoye Taiwo, putting a stop to Taiwo’s Cinderella story at the tournament and remained the only player with five (5) points after five (5) rounds, after Ibrahim Ayomide defeated Atharva Mehra after reaching a Queen and King vs King and Queen endgame. Atharva offered Ibrahim a draw, which the latter declined twice. Atharva then blundered by moving his king into the front of his queen on an open file forcing a skewered position, which Ibrahim duly exploited and won the game. This ensured that Ekunke takes the sole lead of the tournament, while Ibrahim Ayommide and Osadebe Emmanuel went into the final round in second place with four and a half (4.5) points.

Round 6
The final round pitted Ibrahim Ayomide against Ekunke Goodness on board one (1), in a deciding game for both kids, and Ekunke proved unstoppable (showing the strength of his coach, Abidogun Peter of Brain Chess Educational Services) and defeated Ibrahim with the black pieces. Hence, Ekunke Goodness finished first at the Malogy Under 10 (6 – 10) National Chess Championship. This is the second major tournament Ekunke has won within a space of seven (7) months. You can read about his first exploits here)

While Atharva mehra defeated Osade Emmanuel in spectacular fashion. Played the endgame boldly and won, in a game that could have been drawn with accurate play, to tie for the second place. Watch his endgame brilliance in the video below:

Omotoye Taiwo defeated Kushagra Khandelwal join Atharva Mehra in second place, while Israel Ohiorenuan defeated Ayurda Kiran-Parab to finish the tournament in joint 4th position with Udolisa Chimaobi who had a losing position against Hriday Tilwani, but the later decided to offer him a draw.